Box



March 8, 1949..

A. C- ANDERSON BOX Filed June 4, 1945 Patented Mar. 8, 1949 UNITEDSTATES PTEN'IT OFFICE BOX Albert C. Anderson, Lancaster, Pa., assignorto Liberty Can & Sign Gompany, Lancaster, Pa

a corporation of Pennsylvania Application June 4, 1945, Serial No. 597,39'7

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to metal boxes of the sliding cover typeand constitutes an improvement on the boxes shown in the Seymour Batdorfbox patents as follows: 2,06%,241 granted December 15, 7.936, 2,083,356granted June 8, 1937 and 2,093,508 granted September 21, 1937.

In such slide boxes having a two-diameter bead or our] on the top edgeor margin of the body or tray and formed with sharp abrupt shouldersconstituted by the ends of the large diameter portions of the bead orcurl cooperating with onposed sharp shoulders formed by cutting outportions of the depending side flanges of the cover in practice it wasfound that, where the box parts were produced on a large productionbasis, many of the parts, as. they dropped into receiving baskets in thecourse of'manufacture, would be scratched and marred by the sharp edgesor corners of the shoulders of the one part cutting or scratching thelithographed finish or other special finish of otherv of such parts, andthat as assembled in finishedvboxes there was a ,endency of the twopart-s of a given box to twist or cant relative to each other whenpartially opened to such extent that the ends of the side flanges of thecover or top were disposed between the stop shoulders of the top curl orhead of the body or tray due to the smaller diameter of the curl or beadbetween said shown in Batdorf 2,064,241.

To avoid such difficulties the reduced diameter head or curl portionswere bowed or bent laterally outward, except at their extreme endportions, all as shown. and described in Batdorf 2.083356, whichconstruction has proved quite satisfactory so far as preventing marringor injury during manufacture and preventing twisting or canting duringuse and so far as durability and functioning or service are concerned,vbut it has been found costly of manufacture in that the lateral swellsor bosses or enlargements on the dies by which the trays are formed upare subject to excessive wear and chipping. resulting in a very shortlife for a given die, so that a given die will only produce acomparatively small number of box bodiesor trays.

The present invention has been developed with the above considerationsinv view and has for its primary object to provide a slide box of thistype.

which will avoid the risk of scratching or marring of some box parts byother such parts duri g the process of mass production and which will 9J0 guard against the tendency of the parts of a given box to. twist orcantrelative to each other during use by forming the body or tray topedge stop shoulders, as.

bead or curl with a smooth continuous surface of the side portions of'said bead, this being accomplished in the embodiment illustrated byforming the curl or head ofuniform diameter throughout the length ofeachside of the body or tray, the medial portion of the header curl on eachside of the body being made semi-circular in cross-section andpreferably with a portion extending laterally inward" preferablyapproximately perpendicularly to the side of the box body or tray fromthelower' and outer point of the semi-circle, while forming the endportions of the curl or bead of circular form in crosssection, wherebysharp abrupt raw sheet metal cutting edge body stop shoulderswill beprovided at the respective ends of the respective semicircularintermediate side portions of the bead or curl, said shoulders extendingdownward and inward from a horizontal plane adjacent to and preferablycoincident with or slightly below a horizontal plane intersecting. theaxis of saidbead or curl.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 represents a top plan view of a box embodying my invention;

Figure 2, a side elevation thereof;

Figure 3, a top planview'of the tray or body A thereof;

Figure 4, a side elevation of said tray or body A;

Figure 5, a sectional view on the line 5.-5 of Fig. 3, looking in thedirection of the arrows;

Figure 6,.a sectionalview. on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3, looking in thedirection of the arrows;

Figure 7, a side elevation of the sliding top or cover B; and.

Figure 8, an enlarged fragmentary bottom plan view of one of the sideflanges Zof the cover or top to show. the detail. form of the. top orcover r ignates the body or tray of the box; B', the sliding top orcover; C, theusual snap catch lug or latch stamped down or inward" inthe top B to engage and ride up over the end edge curlas the top B-shoved toward closed'position and. as soon as the top B reachesclosedposition, snapping down by the resiliency of the top B and fittinginside of andengaging the adjacent end face of body A to hold the top Bclosed against accidental or unintentional displacement, but beingadapteclto similarly ride up over the top of the curl or said end faceto permit the top or cover B to be opened on pressure being applied inthe reverse direction to open the box; and D, a hook type form of stopadjacent the little lug or catch C to engage the end of the box body ortray A or the adjacent portion of the end edge curl or bead to preventsliding movement of the top or cover B beyond closed position.

The body A has its top edge portion formed into a uniform diameter beador curl of which the end portions I are circular in cross-section, asshown in Figure 6, and the side intermediate portions are preferablysemi-circular in crosssection, as shown in Figure 5, the length of saidintermediate portions 5 substantially corresponding to or preferablyslightly exceeding the permissible length of movement of the top orcover B, and the end portions I respectively preferably extending aboutthe respective end portions of the body A and partially lengthwise ofthe sides of the body A and having sharp abrupt preferably raw sheetmetal edge body stop shoulders 3 at the points of juncture of therespective ends of the respective end portions I of the bead or curlwith the respective ends of the respective intermediate portions 5 ofsaid bead or curl, the respective stop shoulders 3 extending preferablyfrom immediately below a horizontal plane intersecting the axis of thecurl or bead, that is to say respectively from the lower faces of the respective bracing and guard flanges 6, to the extreme lower and innerportions of said bead or curl end portions I, the upper portions of saidstop shoulders I preferably extending in a vertical directionsubstantially perpendicularly to said axis of the bead or curl.

The above described and illustrated construction of the top curl or beadresults in the end portions I and the respective intermediate portions 5on each side of the body or tray A providing a bead or curl of uniformdiameter or extending laterally from the body A on each side thereof auniform distance at its extreme laterally outer point from end to end ofthe body A, thus eliminating the tendency of the body A and top or coverB to twist or cant relative to each other and provides on each side ofthe box or body A and at each end of the respective intermediate bead orcurl portions 5 stop shoulders 3 formed by the respective end edges ofthe respective circular in cross-section end portions I of the bead orcurl and extending respectively through an arc of substantially 90 orslightly less from the extreme laterally outer point of the head or curlportions I downward to their extreme inner portions, whereby allportions of the sharp abrupt body stop shoulders 3 will lie inward ofthe extreme laterally outer portions of the respective intermediateportions 5 and of said end portions of the curl or bead and will therebybe prevented from scratching or marring the lithographed or otherspecial finish of other similar box parts on which a given box body ortray may fall as it drops or is ejected from the stamping or formingmachine into a collecting basket or receptacle during the manufacture ofthe box by usual mass production methods.

The sliding top or cover B will preferably be slightly arched in formpreferably both lengthwise and cross-wise with an outwardly anddownwardly inclined marginal panel or panels extending completely aroundit and will preferably be springy or resilient as a whole preferablycross-wise and preferably also lengthwise and at its side portions willbe formed with downwardly depending inwardly curved side flanges 2 tofit below, and respectively slidably receive, the respective sideportions of the respective bead or curl end portions I and therespective intermediate curl or bead portions 5.

Said flanges 2 have their respective lower inner portions cut out ornotched or interrupted in such form and manner preferably as to form oncorresponding sides or ends of the respective notches or interruptions ashort straight vertically extending portion disposed substantiallyperpendicularly to the axis of the body bead or curl in the assembledrelation of the box parts, the lower portions of the respective flanges2 on each side of the cuts or interruptions being cut away or havingtheir sharp corners rounded off or radiused to eliminate sharp points,and said respective sharp abrupt perpendicularly extending portions oredges of the respective flanges 2 being bent inward to form top or coverstop shoulders 4, see Figures 1 and 8, to respectively engage thecooperating opposed faces of the respective body stop shoulders 3.

Such shoulders 4 will be so disposed lengthwise of the flanges 2 that inthe closed position of the top or cover B they will lie between theshoulders 3 and closely adjacent to said shoulders t of one bead or curlend portion I and, in the open position of the top or cover B willpositively engage with the shoulders 3 of the other bead or curl endportion I, any pressure exerted on the top or cover B in an attempt toforce it open beyond this point simply serving to force the opposingfaces of the shoulders 3 and 4 into tighter biting or cutting engagementeffectually preventing any riding of the one set of stop shoulders orfaces beyond the other and cooperating set of stop shoulders or faces.

If for any reason desired or preferred, the intermediate portion 5 ofthe bead or curl and corresponding stop shoulders 3 may be provided ononly one side of the body or tray A with only the corresponding flange 2of the top or cover B provided with a cooperating stop tongue orshoulder 4 the end portions I of circular cross-section being extendeduninterruptedly for the full length of the other side of the body ortray A and the other flange 2 of the top or cover B not being formedwith a stop tongue or shoulder -5 but being continuous and uninterruptedfrom end to end, or if preferred both of the flanges 2 of the top orcover B may be formed with such stop shoulders 4 so that it may beapplied to the body or tray A from either end thereof in any position ofthe top or cover B and operatively cooperate with the stops or shoulders25 of said body.

In practice, after the body or tray A and top or cover B have beenformed as above, one side flange 2 of the top or cover B will be appliedto or hooked under the side portions of the bead or curl end portions Ion one side of the body or tray A with the stop tongue or shoulder l ofsaid flange 2 disposed between the body stop shoulders 3 on said side ofthe body or tray A, the other side flange 2 of the top or cover B willbe brought to rest on top of the top surface of the bead or curlportions on the other side of the body or tray A, and then pressure willbe applied gently, as by hand, to cause the latter flange 2 to snapabout and under said curl portions on said other side of the body ortray A, whereupon the assembly of the box will be complete.

The foregoing is the preferred mode of assembly, though of course thebox may be assembled by any mode found practical.

Preferably the top or cover B will be so formed and of such size thatwhen closed the inclined marginal portion will yieldingly press againstthe opposed upper face or portion of the bead or curl preferablythroughout, and at all points of, the length of the sides of said curlor bead of the body A in accordance with the teaching of the BatdorfPatents Nos. 2,064,241 and 2,083,356.

The cross-sectional forms of the end portions I and the intermediateportions 5 are of no great importance and they may be of anycross-sectional form so long as they result in providing the continuousupper and extreme laterally outer face portions flush with each part oftheir respective upper and laterally outer surfaces at all pointsthroughout the length of the sides of the body or tray A and are of suchconstruction as to provide, or of such construction that they may beformed or added to provide, the body stop shoulders 3 located andprotected or hooded substantially as shown and described.

I claim:

1. A slide cover type box comprising a body formed with a uniformdiameter top edge curl having end portions of ci cular cross-section andmedial portions respectively extending lengthwise of the respectivesides of said body from the respective ends of one end portion to therespective opposed ends of the other of said end portions of said curland constituting therewith a continuous smooth upper and outer curvedsurface extending to the extreme laterally outer points of said curl onopposite sides of said body, said intermediate curl portions beingapproximately semi-circular in cross-section and formed respectivelywith flanges extending respectively from their respective lower andouter portions inward toward the sides of the body, and the lower andouter ends of the respective end portions presenting abrupt sharp edgestop shoulders respectively extending through arcs of approximatelyninety degrees from approximately the axis of said end portions at thejuncture of the respective end portions and medial portions andrespectively disposed in planes approximately perpendicular to the axesof the respective end portions, in combination with a sliding coverarched cross-wise and formed of resilient material, side flangesintegral with said cover and curved downwardly and inwardly to snuglyslidingly engage about and under the respective outer faces of said topedge curl, sharp abrupt shoulders respectively extending inwardly andupwardly from the respective flanges and so located lengthwise thereofas to be disposed between the body stop shoulders on the respectivesides of said body and to be respectively presented in opposition to therespectively cooperating body stop shoulders when said cover is appliedto said body.

2. A slide cover type box (comprising a body formed with a uniformdiameter top curl having end portions of circular form in cross-sectionand an intermediate portion extending lengthwise of one side of saidbody between the opposed ends of said end portions on that side of thebox and being of semi-circular form in cross-section, the lower andouter portions of the respective opposed ends of said end portions atthe respective ends of said intermediate portion constituting abruptbody stop shoulders, in combination with a sliding cover, side flangeson said cover, and a sharp abrupt cover stop extending inwardly from oneof said flanges and so located lengthwise thereof as to be disposedbetween said opposed body stop shoulders and to be presented inopposition to one of said body stop shoulders to engage the same whensaid cover is moved in a given direction.

3. A slide cover type box comprising a body formed with a uniformdiameter top curl having end portions of circular form in cross sectionand side portions extending lengthwise of said body and merging withsaid end portions, one of said side portions constituting anintermediate portion of semi-circular form in cross-section, the lowerand outer portions of the respective ends of said end portions at therespective ends of said intermediate portion being raw sheet metal edgesconstituting sharp abrupt body stop shoulders, in combination with asliding cover, side flanges depending from said cover and a sharp abruptcover stop extending inwardly from one of said flanges and so locatedlengthwise thereof as to be disposed between said opposed body stopshoulders and to be presented in opposition to one of said body stopshoulders to engage the same when said cover is moved in a givendirection.

4. A slide cover type sheet metal box comprising abody formed with a topedge bead extending about the top margin thereof and having its extremetop crest all lying in the same horizontal plane and on each sideextending laterally outward to a uniform distance throughout the lengthof each side and having end portions and side portions, one of said sideportions constituting an intermediate portion of non-circular form incross-section with its lowest part lying in a plane above the respectivelower parts of said respective end portions to leave the lower and outerportions of the respective ends of said end portions at the respectiveends of said intermediate side portion as exposed raw sharp abrupt sheetmetal edges constituting body stop shoulders, in combination with asliding cover, side flanges depending from said cover, and a sharpabrupt cover stop shoulder extending inwardly from one of said flangesand so located lengthwise thereof as to be disposed between said opposedbody stop shoulders and to be presented in opposition to one of saidbody stop shoulders to engage the same when said cover is moved in agiven direction.

ALBERT C. ANDERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,064,241 Batdorf Dec. 15, 19362,083,356 Batdorf June 8, 1937 2,093,508 Batdorf Sept. 21, 1937

